The Weekly Geek: Major in “Twilight” with an emphasis in “True Blood”

One of the most amusing hobbies of media-savvy dorkdom is counting the academic institutions that endorse the study of “geeky things.” I’m not talking about straight up math or science subjects — that’s far too easy. No, I’m talking about colleges that offer courses in The Strategy of Starcraft or PHD’s who do years-long, serious research on the mythological aspects of Star Trek.

However, the news of a new track in a graduate program — an entire course of study devoted solely to vampire literature — has to be the best. That’s right — a scholar at the University of Hertfordshire named Dr. Sam George (who rocks the vamp look like no other) has organized a conference on the subject, with a September rollout of a master’s program in vampire lit.

George is launching, in September, what seems to be the world’s first master’s degree in vampire literature. “In the months I’ve been planning the conference I’ve fielded a huge number of inquiries from people all over the world who are interested in studying vampires, zombies and the undead at a higher level,” she says. “I had the idea of offering the master’s as a direct follow-up from the conference.”

“The conference schedule is packed. Planned lectures range from “Sullied Blood, Semen, and Skin: Vampires and the Spectre of Miscegenation” to “Who Ordered the Hamburger with Aids?: Blood Anxiety in True Blood.”

A Master’s degree in vampire literature? That makes my philosophy degree look almost useful in comparison! All (mildly jealous) joking aside, I’d actually love to attend the nastier-sounding lectures, particularly that last one. It refers specifically to a scene in True Blood when Lafayette (a gay man) pulls one of the most badass pro-gay moves in the history of TV when he serves a bunch of bigots in his restaurant.

I certainly hope there’s a unit in great lesbian vampire stories. I would gladly volunteer to watch The Hunger a few times — in the name of research, of course.